Dec. 28 snow in North Texas

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'Camp Bravo' lets homeless kids experience summer fun

DALLAS - There's a special summer camp going on this week and next for a group of kids who often do not get to participate in extracurricular activities. They're homeless.

FOX 4’s Chip Waggoner got the chance to hang out with some of the campers at the Rainbow Days "Camp Bravo" at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church.

The camp gives the children the chance to participate in fun music, theater and cooking classes, as well as art and video production lessons.

“Homeless children are an invisible population and a lot of people think about the man on the street or woman on the street asking for money. But there are over 1,000 children on any given night in Dallas that don’t have a home, don’t have privacy. They’ve said goodbye to their dogs. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from and so it’s very important to provide them opportunities every child has. This is a way for them to have fun and be a child where they can forget about their circumstances and be with other kids with like circumstances,” said Kelly Wierzbinski, the Rainbow Days director of family connection.

Friday is the last day of this week’s camp. The kids will perform on stage and have a chance to hear an audience clap for them. For many, that experience will be a first.

They talked to Chip about what some of their favorite experiences have been.

“It’s really fun because you can make new friends here,” said Elijah.

“The favorite part I like is playing games in the choir room,” added Jenaiya.

“It makes me feel good that I’m here and I’m lucky enough to be here and have all this fun with teachers and other students,” Caddie said.

“I like to videotape and be on TV. This is my first time being on TV,” said Faith.